HOOK PLACEMENT:To start we'll just check
the I.G.F.A. rules that all affiliated game fishing
clubs adhere to. These rules maintain that when using
two hooks they are at least the distance of the larger
hook apart, and that part (not all!) of the trailing
hook is within the skirt, i.e. at least the eye of the
hook.

These
rules exist to make things equal amounts anglers and to
make it as sporting as possible for the fish. So for
your best chance , rig your hooks as close as possible
to each other setting them as far back in the skirt as
possible as shown in Fig 1.

SINGLE HOOK RIGS:Recently there has been a
major increase in the use of two hook rigs in skirted
trolling lures. The decline in the use of single hook
rigs has been followed by a general decline in hook-up
rates. A lure rigged incorrectly with two hooks
is not as effective as the same lure rigged with a
single hook.

When a
single hook, on a loose loop is pulled through the water
it rides point up, bend down with point riding almost
level with the eye as in Fig 2. The hook also has
a natural wobble, swivelling on its bend.

Unless the
hook is accurately aligned in the lure a 'stiff rig' may
cause the lure to spin resulting in line twist. To both
lessen the chance of lure spin and increase hook ups,
rig the hook on a loose loop with the hook positioned
well back in the skirt, with its point at least level
with the end of the skirts. This also lessens the chance
of the hook tangling in the skirt.

The
success rate using single hooks, sharpened ones of
course, is relatively high. A released fish caught on a
single hook has more chance of survival, especially if
the hooks are left in the fish. It is also far less
dangerous handling a fish caught on a single hook. There
are many instances of a getting a flailing hook stuck in
one hand while the other is still connected to a
sometimes very large and very lively fish If
you're not sure which type of twin hook rig to use in a
lure then a single will probably give you a higher
success rate. Each type of skirted trolling lure has a
optimum system for rigging to, for example the Pakula
Shackle Rig was specifically designed for use with
Pakula Lures giving the highest success rates. On the
same lures a standard 90 degree stiff rig results in a
very bad success rate.

All lures
have a more active action when using single hooks. The
wrong two hook rig results in a far worse catch rate
plus other associated problems such as hook and skirt
tangles, line twist and impaired lure action. Even the
correct twin hook rig results in only marginally better
catch rates than using a single hook.

PAKULA SLIP RIG:A quick and effective
method of positioning hooks within the skirts is by
twisting and tying a rubber band around the leader in
between the hooks and the back of the lure. Then by
pushing the band up or down the leader you can place the
hooks exactly where you want them. This system is
effective using both the
Pakula Shackle Rig and Single Hook Rigs as shown in
Fig 3.

There are
many advantages of combining the the Slip Rig with your
normal rigging. If a fish bills the lure there is more
chance of hooking it in the mouth rather than glancing
off a hard bill. If the lure is taken from the side the
hooks must pass across the jaws, and if taken from
behind the hooks are further down the throat. No matter
how the fish attacks there is a greater chance of
hooking it securely. The fact that the hook point and
bend are totally visible does not in any way disturb the
fish.

The use of
the rubber band also cushions the back of the lure
against the knot or crimp to the hooks. This is a major
fatigue area that leads to many failures on both wire
and nylon. These failures are normally blamed on toothy
fish such as Wahoo and Mackerel.